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The 2022 Audi RS3 is the best pocket rocket Audi has ever built.

The Audi RS3 has had three different generations throughout the years, and the latest generation has to be the wildest one yet. It might not emit much more power than the previous-generation RS3, but there is so much more to this Audi than just sheer power and a refreshed face.

The RS3 tackles two different segments at the same time; the first being small, lightweight sports cars, such as the BMW M240i, and the other being hot hatches, such as the Honda Civic Type R, and today we're here to show you why it excels in what it sets out to do, and why it's one of the all-time best Audis to exist.

The Audi RS3 is available either as a four-door compact sedan just called the Sedan or a hatchback called the Sportback. Both of them come fitted with the same engine and overall drivetrain, but because of their different exterior designs, they also have different levels of cabin space too.

The Sportback is more practical with its rear end's 380 liters of space and is considered a hot hatch, while the Sedan only has 335 liters of trunk space It is worth mentioning that despite their size, many enthusiasts prefer the looks of the RS3 Sedan opposed to the Sportback.

All performance-orientated Audis are currently being equipped with Quattro all-wheel-drive, even their fun, compact sports car, the Audi TT. Don't be fooled, however, the new RS3 doesn't suffer from understeer nearly as much as the previous-generation RS3, its new drivetrain actually has some tricks up its sleeve – more on that later.

All-wheel-drive cars tend to be more usable in colder, icier weather conditions, but not just that, they also boast more grip when launching, and that's the exact reason why the RS3 tends to shoot off the line quicker, and more consistent than most rear-wheel-drive sports cars such as the Ford Mustang.

The first hot hatchback to come fitted with a so-called drift mode was the Ford Focus RS, but since then a plethora of other carmakers have followed suit, and also developed their own drift mode – in the RS3's case, it's because of something Audi likes to call the "RS Torque Splitter."

This basically allows the rear differential to send all the power to the rear wheels and morph your Quattro all-wheel-drive RS car into a rear-wheel-drive hoon machine allowing for some unbelievable sideways action.

Audi's prized possession when it comes down to gasoline-powered engines has to be their glorious naturally-aspirated V10 engine found in the R8, as well as the Lamborghini Huracan, but for obvious reasons, fitting a gargantuan 5.2-liter powertrain into a small compact car is an impossible task, so they sliced it in half and added forced induction into the mix.

As a result, the 2022 Audi RS3 is powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-5 that produces 401 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque – what an engineering marvel this truly is.

The Audi RS3 has a very adaptive personality and excels in an endless amount of areas, so it comes as no surprise that there are seven different drive modes to choose from namely: Comfort, Auto, Dynamic, Efficiency, RS Individual, RS Performance, and RS Torque Rear.

In an instant the RS3 switches from being a comfortable little cruiser to a balls-to-the-wall boy racer, and of course, then it can also relax a bit and wing around corners with its rear end waving to the apex as well.

Related: 5 German Sports Cars We'd Buy Over Any Muscle Car (5 We Wouldn't)

Sleepers are arguably the coolest cars to ever exist; they're cars that look nowhere near as impressive as they perform, and the RS3 is a perfect example hereof. Usually, sleepers are built, not bought, but in the RS3's case, it's maniacally fast right out of the box.

The 2022 Audi RS3 can reach 60 mph from a standstill quicker than one of the most sought-after BMW sports cars ever built, the M2 CS since it can clock in a time of just 3.3 seconds, and that's in its stock form, a Stage 2 RS3 is even quicker.

Related: The 2022 Audi RS3 Is The Perfect Everyday Performance Car

We've already said the RS3 is a versatile car, it's practical and fast, but if you really get a chance to stretch its legs, the RS3 can turn into a proper track machine. When you put it into RS Performance mode, turn off the traction control, and place it on the iconic Nurburgring, the RS3 can set a time of 7:40.75.

In comparison to cars of its caliber, the RS3 reigns victorious since it outperforms the Renault Megane's 7:45.39 time. On top of that, it's also awfully close to much more prestigious, sportier cars such as the Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera that set a time just 0.10 seconds slower.

Related: These 10 Cars Used To Be Sleepers, But Every Gearhead Knows Them Today

Audi has always had a way of building their interiors to find the perfect balance between extravagant styling, and an easy-to-use interface, and this is remarkable throughout the entire RS3's interior.

Its seats are as comfortable as they look, yet they hold you in place when gripping around a corner, its 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment display is as intuitive as ever – not even to mention the digital gauge cluster Audi calls their Virtual Cockpit, but the cherry on the cake is this interior is built to last and is constructed out of only the finest materials known to man.

The RS3 might not have the 6-speed manual transmission that's found in the Honda Civic Type R, but what it does have is something even better, a seven-speed S-Tronic dual-clutch automatic transmission.

This gearbox is as responsive to inputs as a hungry dog to the dinner bell. According to Audi, the RS3 only takes just a few hundredths of a second to shift up to down with almost no lack of power between.

Perhaps the RS3's unique design, exquisite interior, and exhilarating performance figures aren't enough for you to stand out from the crowd. Well, if that's the case, we have some good news. The new 2022 Audi RS3 is available in eight different colors.

These colors are namely Turbo Blue, Mythos Black, Glacier White, Tangor Red, Python Yellow, Daytona Gray, Kyalami Green, and Kemora Gray. Throughout the article, we showcased these in various pictures, but if you were to ask us which color to go for, we'd highly recommend the press car's exotic Kyalami Green illustrated above.

Marnus Moolman is a young aspiring automotive writer from South Africa who is making a name for himself, despite his young age. Currently, he is studying to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting to pursue his lifetime dream of running his own automotive detailing establishment.